Corona in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Corona's Final Road Race - Start/Finish Line April 8, 1916

Photographed by Patrick Duggan, March 20, 2025

1. Corona's Final Road Race - Start/Finish Line April 8, 1916 Marker

Inscription.
On April 8, 1916, at 1:00 p.m. the third and final Corona Road Race began near Third Street on Grand Boulevard. Twelve drivers were positioned at the Start line with their cars, hoping to win a share of the $12,000 purse. As in the races of 1913 and 1914, the 1916 course totaled 109 laps around the 2.77 mile circular course, totaling slightly more than 300 miles.

The finishing time of each driver was recorded: Eddie O'Donnell - 3:29.52; Joe Thomas - 3:36.01; Eddie Mullen - 3:38.36; Teddy Tetzlaff - 3:58.04; and R.C. Durant - 4:05.24. Laps behind Durant, only E.S. Waterman remained on the track. The officials flagged him into the pits before he completed all laps, making him the last person to drive around the now municipal route at racing speeds.

Tragically, three men were killed when driver Bob Burman's car flew into a group of spectators killing Burman, his mechanic Eric Schader, and W.S. Speer, a local man. Five spectators were also injured. Paid attendance was about one-quarter of the previous races with a total of just 25,000 spectators. This race ended in tragedy and financial failure.

Erected by Corona History Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is April 8, 1916.

Location. 33°

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52.718′ N, 117° 34.373′ W. Marker is in Corona, California, in Riverside County. It is on West Grand Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 319 West Grand Boulevard, Corona CA 92882, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Corona High School (approx. ¼ mile away); First Baptist Church of Corona (approx. half a mile away); Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (approx. half a mile away); Andrew Carnegie Library (approx. half a mile away); Woman's Improvement Club (approx. 0.7 miles away); Corona's 1-Mile Diameter Grand Boulevard Historic District (approx. 0.9 miles away); Corona Founders (approx. one mile away); Corona Historic Preservation Society (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corona.

More about this marker. The marker is within the Grand Boulevard Historic District (National Register of Historic Places).

Also see . . . The Corona Road Race Tragedy 1916 (YouTube, 4:32). “ On the 8th of April 1916, A wheel broke on a race car during the 3rd Corona Roadrace with horrific results” (Submitted on March 29, 2025.)

Photographed by Patrick Duggan, March 20, 2025

2. Corona's Final Road Race - Start/Finish Line April 8, 1916 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2025, by Patrick Duggan of Los Angeles, California. This page has been viewed 282 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2025, by Patrick Duggan of Los Angeles, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.